How to Connect Xbox 360 Wired Controller to PC Windows 8

Part 1 of 2: Installing the Driver

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   Visit the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows website. Open your web browser and visit www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/d/xbox-360-controller-for-windows. If you are using a wireless Xbox 360 controller, follow this guide.
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   Select Windows 7 as your operating system. Click the drop-down menu to see the list of available operating systems. There is no Windows 8 version, but the Windows 7 version will work just fine.
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   Select either "32-bit" or "64-bit." The latter choice depends on which version of Windows you are running. See this guide for details on determining which version of Windows you have.
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   Click the download link. Once you have selected your operating system, you can choose your language from the drop-down menu in the "Software and Drivers" section and click the "Download ∨" link. This will begin the downloading process.
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   Open the folder containing the installation file. After the file has finished downloading, you will need to change the compatibility mode before running it. To do this, open the location of the installer on your computer. This is usually your "Downloads" folder.
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   Right-click on the installer. Select "Properties" and click the Compatibility tab.
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   Enable compatibility mode. Check the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" box. Select "Windows 7" from the drop-down list. Click Apply and thenOK. It is essential that you enable compatibility mode, or the drivers will not install correctly.
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   Run the setup program. The installer will install the necessary files and drivers. You may be prompted to restart your computer after the installation has finished.

Part 2 of 2: Using the Controller

1. 
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   Plug the controller in via USB. Make sure to plug it into a port directly on your computer, and not through a USB hub. Use a USB extension cable if you need more reach. It must be a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port.
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   Open the Game Controllers window. Press the ⊞ Win key to open the Start screen, and then type joy.cpl and press ↵ Enter. This will open the Game Conox 360 controller will be shown in the main frame.
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   Select your Xbox 360 controller from the list. Click the Properties button.
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   Test the controller. Press various buttons and move the sticks on the controller. You should see the associated lights illuminate in the Properties window, and moving the sticks will move the crosshair around the joystick field.

   • If your controller is not working, try plugging it into a different USB port.
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   5
   Start up your game. Depending on the game, your controller may be activated automatically, or you may need to enable the controller from the Options menu. Not all games support controllers.